Biogeographical Distribution
All species of the genus Turbo are found in circumtropical and some temperate regions (Sprung, 2001). The need for specific temperatures to function at an optimal metabolic rate restricts these animals to their respective range and global distributions. Climate and oceanographic conditions dictates a wide variety of biological and ecological processes including species range, metabolism and reproductive outputs (Allen, 2002, O'Connor, 2006, Southward, 1995 and Veiga, 2011). Changes in abundance and geographical range of intertidal invertebrates due to climate change such as sea surface warming and air temperatures have been well documented. Many studies conducted have proved that temperature is important in shaping the abundance and distribution patterns of intertidal invertebrates (Mieszkowska, 2006 and Mieszkowska, 2007).
Turbo undulatus is an endemic species, confined to temperate Australia. Its range and distribution include Coolangatta, Queensland, to Bremer Bay (east of Albany), western Australia and Tasmania (Potter and Short, 1987).
Map showing distribution and range of Turbo undulata (A= Coolangatta, B= Bremer Bay C= Tasmania)
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